So, recently I bought a model ship of the Going Merry from One Piece. I am having a TON of fun putting it together but I noticed that the characters need painted and that to make it really look amazing, I need to paint a few other things as well.

I have never painted models like this before.

I tried searching around on amazon for paint sets. Can anyone recommend me a good set? Price really isn't an issue because I think I'll end up buying more models. I just want something with a large array of colors.

I can't recommend a specific paint set, but in general I would suggest Testors paints. I've used their military flat set before, but I'm not sure what colors you'll need exactly. Some other options that might have the colors you need are this or that.

Also, I love Gundam Markers for doing detail work, much easier than trying to do a line with brushes or toothpicks.

I can't recommend a specific paint set, but in general I would suggest Testors paints. I've used their military flat set before, but I'm not sure what colors you'll need exactly. Some other options that might have the colors you need are this or that.

Also, I love Gundam Markers for doing detail work, much easier than trying to do a line with brushes or toothpicks.

Interesting! Well, the characters I have are pretty small. How do the markers work over an area about half the size of your pinky fingernail?

Also, thank you for the suggestions for testors paint. I might just have to browse around for what I need.

Interesting! Well, the characters I have are pretty small. How do the markers work over an area about half the size of your pinky fingernail?

Also, thank you for the suggestions for testors paint. I might just have to browse around for what I need.

Hrm.. they're meant to add in lines for 1/144 scale Gundams, like this.. if the area you're working in needs lots of detail at half pinky nail size, they probably won't help much. For something like that, I'd fall back on very small brushes, toothpicks, or a thin sheet of plastic (like what you might find in clear plastic blister packaging - like this), then cut it into a fine point that you can dip in your paint and draw super small dots or lines.

You will defiantly want to spray some primer on the figures since you will have a hard time getting the paint to stick without it especially when they are so small. I like Citadel brushes for painting even though their paints kinda meh. I would look at the brushes around the detail size for Citadel or most double or triple 0 brushes from other companies and don't buy cheap brushes. You should be able to get good brushes for under ten dollars a piece but avoid the multi pack and two dollar brushes.

For paint I really really like Vallejo paints. I have used several different brands and Vallejo in my opinion is the best. I have not used testors acrylic paints so don't now to much about them but the military people seem to like them a lot. Vallejo paints seem to really do a great job of dispersing the paint across the surface evenly as well as the dropper bottles are awesome for not letting the paint dry out and for measuring.

No matter what paint you get you will want to thin the paint out by adding water if your using acrylic paint or enamel thinner for enamel paints. This is really important since if it is to thick you will mask the details. You should be able to look on youtube for stuff like this.

You also might want to do a wash/panel line on the figure to give it depth. Again there are a lot of youtube vids for this.

You will defiantly want to spray some primer on the figures since you will have a hard time getting the paint to stick without it especially when they are so small. I like Citadel brushes for painting even though their paints kinda meh. I would look at the brushes around the detail size for Citadel or most double or triple 0 brushes from other companies and don't buy cheap brushes. You should be able to get good brushes for under ten dollars a piece but avoid the multi pack and two dollar brushes.

For paint I really really like Vallejo paints. I have used several different brands and Vallejo in my opinion is the best. I have not used testors acrylic paints so don't now to much about them but the military people seem to like them a lot. Vallejo paints seem to really do a great job of dispersing the paint across the surface evenly as well as the dropper bottles are awesome for not letting the paint dry out and for measuring.

No matter what paint you get you will want to thin the paint out by adding water if your using acrylic paint or enamel thinner for enamel paints. This is really important since if it is to thick you will mask the details. You should be able to look on youtube for stuff like this.

You also might want to do a wash/panel line on the figure to give it depth. Again there are a lot of youtube vids for this.

Good Luck and post some pictures when your finished.

Thank you. For brushes, is there anything available online that you would recommend? I was at a shop earlier today and they had quite a lot of Warhammer and Citadel stuff. I was tempted to buy a Citadel set but I realized I really didn't know much about what I was going to get in to so I decided against it.

Interesting! Well, the characters I have are pretty small. How do the markers work over an area about half the size of your pinky fingernail?

Also, thank you for the suggestions for testors paint. I might just have to browse around for what I need.

Hrm.. they're meant to add in lines for 1/144 scale Gundams, like this.. if the area you're working in needs lots of detail at half pinky nail size, they probably won't help much. For something like that, I'd fall back on very small brushes, toothpicks, or a thin sheet of plastic (like what you might find in clear plastic blister packaging - like this), then cut it into a fine point that you can dip in your paint and draw super small dots or lines.

Alright, thanks. It sounds like just a really fine brush is what I need and possibly some toothpicks for something like the eyes.

So, recently I bought a model ship of the Going Merry from One Piece. I am having a TON of fun putting it together but I noticed that the characters need painted and that to make it really look amazing, I need to paint a few other things as well.

I have never painted models like this before.

I tried searching around on amazon for paint sets. Can anyone recommend me a good set? Price really isn't an issue because I think I'll end up buying more models. I just want something with a large array of colors.

Thank you!

it depends on what type of paint you want, and what type of delivery system ( pen, brush, airbrush)

Beginners tend to use acrylics or water-based paints. I like Tamiya or Mr. Color personally ( I build Gunpla, like MakotoKamui)

You can google for places that sell color kits, or find a local hobby store, and they will carry Tamiya. ( 99% of all RC stores sell Tamiya)

You can usually pick up some nice brushes, some nice paints, and some basic supplies from anywhere, and either buy in a kit or individual colors.

Figures usually do best with a brush. Models tend to do best with an airbrush.

The tamiya paints are my favourites though, they thin well as well. I don't use brushes for large areas any more (though I used to a lot for airfix) but now swear by an airbrush haha xD Can get a good starter set with a compressor and two airbrushes for about £60 on eBay. The finish is a lot smoother than with a brush too...